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THE ORIGINAL UNITED STATES WARSHIP 

"MONITOR." 



COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE LATE 

CORNELIUS S. BUSHNELL, 

OF NEW HAVEN, CONN., 

Captain JOHN ERICSSON 



Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the United States Navy, 

TOGETHER WITH A BRIEF SKETCH OF MR. BUSHNELL'S LIFE. 



ERICSSON, BUSHNELL, GRISWOLD AND WINSLOW, CONTRACTORS WITH THE 

GOVERNMENT. 

THOS. F. ROWLAND, BUILDER OF HULL AND TURRET. 

C. H. DELAMETER & CO., BUILDERS OF ENGINES, BOILERS AND MACHINERY. 

DANIEL DREW AND NEHEMIAH D. SPERRY, OF NEW HAVEN, BONDSMEN. 



RECORDS SHOWING HOW THE PLANS OF THE MONITOR WERE 
URGED UPON THE GOVERNMENT AND FINALLY ADOI^TED. 



WITH PORTRAITS, ILLUSTRATIONS AND COPIES OF CONTRACTS 
FOR VESSEL'S CONSTRUCTION. 



I 



Compiled by 
WILLIAM S. WELLS, 

(late) 2ND ASSISTANT ENGINEER U. S. NAVY. 
UNDER DIRECTIONS OF THE CORNELIUS S. BUSHNELL NATIONAL MEMORIAL 

ASSOCIATION. 

New Haven, Conn., September, 1899. 
^. ft ?, 









49351 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1899, By WILLIAM S. WELLS, in the 
office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 







THIS COMPILATION 
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

TO 

SERENO S. BUSHNELL, 

REV. SAMUEL C. BUSHNELL, 

MRS. CHARLOTTE BUSHNELL WATSON, 

CORNELIUS J. BUSHNELL, 

NATHAN BUSHNELL, 

ERICSSON P. BUSHNELL, 

WINTHROP G. BUSHNELL, 

EDWARD W. BUSHNELL, 

CHILDREN OF THE LATE CORNELIUS S. BUSHNELL 



PREFACE. 

As long as the histor3' of the United States shall endure, the thrilling 
story of the battle of March 9, 1862, between the "Monitor "and " Mer- 
rimac" will retain its fascination. 

The people of this country and the nations of the world have not really 
known the full story and the real spirit or energy to which we are prima- 
rily indebted for urging the construction of this initial and then invincible 
vessel whose first encounter marked an epoch in the development of arma- 
ments afloat and ashore. And although thirty-seven years have passed 
since that memorable battle, and articles innumerable in books and maga- 
zines have appeared from time to time in regard to the building of this 
first type of modern war vessel, it has remained until this day to compile 
and present herewith some information heretofore unpublished in full, 
which will show that it was through the efforts of one man chiefly (the 
late Cornelius S. Bushnell of New Haven) that the work was accomplished. 

The following pages will show that it was Mr. Bushnell's untiring 
energy and patriotic devotion which vigorously pushed the plans of 
Captain John Ericsson to final completion with not an hour to spare, 
and which operated in a large degree to lift the gloom that hung over the 
country during one of the darkest days of our history as a nation. 

Mr. C. S. Bushnell was a citizen of New Haven, Conn., and his towns- 
men with many others desire to perform a duty due to his work and worth, 
by erecting a suitable memorial, to cost $25,000. The State of Con- . 
necticut has generously appropriated $5,000 towards the expense. 

A committee of our foremost citizens, not only of this State, but 
throughout the country, has undertaken the task of erecting this monu- 
ment, and now gives the country and the State an opportunity of showing 
their substantial appreciation of that in which we, as Americans, take such 
great pride, and which has been of such vast benefit to the United States, 
as well as to all civilized nations of the world. 

Contributions may be sent to The New Haven Trust Co., Mr. T. 
Attwater Barnes, President; First National Bank Building, New Haven, 
Conn., Treasurer of the Cornelius S. Bushnell National Memorial Asso- 
ciation. 




CORNELIUS SCRANTON BUSHNELL. 
1862, 



THE BUILDING OF THE "MONITOR" 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS S. BUSHNELL. 



In this country, it is not the accident of birth that gives 
a man sure and permanent distinction. His achievements, 
which have benefited humanity and marked steps in the 
world's progress, are the measure of the honor accorded him 
while living, and of the pride and reverence in which his 
memory is held when dead. 

Upon this roll of citizens entitled to high honor for per- 
sonal worth and public service, the name of Cornelius 
ScRANTON BusHNELL should havc especial prominence. He 
was born in Madison, Conn., July 19, 1829; died in New York 
city May 6, 1896, and was laid to rest May 9, in Evergreen 
Cemetery, New Haven, Conn. 

His father, Nathan Bushnell, and his mother, Chloe 
Scranton, were respectively descended from Francis Bushnell 
and John Scranton, who emigrated from England to the New 
Haven Colony in 163S, and were members of the company 
which purchased the Guilford plantation from the Indians. 

His youth was such as to develop an inherited strong 
body, and the influence of his home instilled into his mind 
the foundation of a sterling character. 

He was an extraordinary man, a typical example of Amer- 
ican pertinacity and versatile ability. Larger in stature and 
physical development than ordinary men, he excelled them 
also in activity and the power of comprehending great 
things. 

His commercial foresight and appreciation of special 
merits in mechanical inventions were the marked charac- 
teristics of his eventful life, and enabled him to accomplish 
much for which the people of this country and the world 
should be profoundly grateful. At the age of 15 he began 
his life work on a coasting vessel and one year later was 



in command of a sixt3'-ton schooner. He remained in the 
coastwise trade five years, when he established his home in 
New Haven. 

At the age of 21 he married Emily Fowler Clark, who 
died Jan. 10, 1869. The result of this marriage was the birth 
of nine sons and one daughter. Seven of the sons and one 
daughter survive him; also his widow by a later marriage. 

He was for a time associated with his brother, N. T. Bush- 
nell, in the grocery business. In 1858 the New Haven and 
New London railroad became embarrassed for want of rev- 
enue. Mr. Bushnell became interested, and perceived that 
the only way to put the road on a paying basis was to make 
a connection with lines to the eastward. Through his efforts 
and the great assistance of James I. Day, of Stonington, Giles 
F. Ward, of vSaybrook, Ccmn., and other friends, legislative and 
financial support was obtained for building the road from 
New London to Stonington. He was made president. 

The importance of this new through mail route between 
Boston and New York reqiiired his presence in Washington 
at this time, and brought him in close contact with the execu- 
tive officials of the government. 

The War of the Rebellion was seen to be inevitable. The 
city was filled with disloyal conspirators, and our national 
officials and property were practically without security or 
defence. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, he, with others, 
sojourning in the city, and some loyal residents, enlisted in 
the "Clay Battalion" for the purpose of guarding public 
buildings and the residences of officials until reinforcements 
could arrive. 

His "muster into" the service bears date April 18, and 
his "muster out" is dated May 4, 1861. He, however, in- 
formed the writer that he performed service from April 
13th. His discharge bears the signature of President Lincoln, 
and that of Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, with the 
expression of their thanks for services rendered at that crit- 
ical time. (See fac-simile of discharge in Appendix.) This 
service made Mr. Bushnell eligible for membership in the 
Grand Army of the Republic, and he was duly mustered into 
Admiral Foote Post, No. 17, Dept. of Conn., G. A. R., 
on June 5, 1886, and was buried with Grand Army honors. 

He was one of the organizers of the Union Pacific Rail- 
road Company, and a potent factor in pushing this great 



enterprise to completion. He alone of the original organ- 
izers remained from start to finish in this important work. 

He amassed a great fortune in this and other enterprises; 
but later, he was unfortunate in advancing capital for certain 
enterprises, especially the construction of the Atlantic and 
Southern Pacific Railroad, the development of iron works, 
mines and coal lands, etc., and in giving endorsements and 
guarantee bonds. Like many, he recognized too late the 
reaction of the stimulus given by the inflated finances of 
the war, and suffered the loss of nearly all he had accumu- 
lated. 

Mr. Bushnell early saw that the Civil War was inevitable. 
He aprehended the magnitude it might assume, and foresaw 
the important part our forces afloat would have to take in the 
conflict. He seems to have been providentially selected to 
take a most important (although in the public eye an incon- 
spicuous) part in this great struggle. He appreciated the 
value and necessity of sea power, offensive and defensive, 
and that it must be provided quickly. 

With the expert assistance of S. H. Pook, a naval con- 
structor of Boston, the plan of the ironclad "Galena" was 
developed, and with the cooperation of Hon. James E. Eng- 
lish, member of Congress from New Haven, he received a 
contract to build this vessel. Mr. Bushnell also established a 
shipyard at Fair Haven, Conn., and built many steam and 
other vessels under the superintendency of Mr. Pook. 

It was while consulting mechanical engineers as to the 
probable stability of the "Galena" that the most momen- 
tous incident in Mr. Bushnell's life occurred: his meeting 
with John Ericsson, of New York. Not only was this a most 
fortunate incident for the welfare of our Union of States, but 
it was productive of an epoch in the world's naval history. 
After Mr. Ericsson had shown him the plans of the Monitor, 
Mr. Bushnell at once comprehended the value of that novel 
vessel. He acted quickly, and his sterling patriotism and 
energy were proven by his instant approval and vigorous 
advocacy of this new and untried type of warship. With 
untiring wit and consummate tact he forced upon our govern- 
ment the adoption of the impregnable turret which has 
become standard with the navies of the world. 

As one of the sureties to the United States Government for 
the satisfactory performance of the "Monitor," with the Hon. 




ti«v 




CAPT. JOHN ERICSSON. 



N. D. Sperry, our present Congressman, and the late Daniel 
Drew, of New York, bondsmen, Cornelius Scranton Bush- 
NELL risked everything he possessed on the success or failure 
of a craft derided by one of the Naval Board at Washing- 
ton as being "unlike anything in the heavens above, the 
earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth." The story 
of the memorable battle between the Monitor and the Merri- 
mac in Hampton Roads, Va., on March 9, 1862, need not be 
repeated here. 

The following copies of the original documents reveal 
clearly how the plans of Mr. Ericsson were unexpectedly 
brought to light, and how they were promptly carried to com- 
pletion through the efforts of Mr. Bushnell, who, for a period 
of fifteen years after the conflict, was singularly modest and 
reticent in regard to the part he took in those stirring times. 
He used to say that history would take care of itself after 
he was gone. But in February, 1877, to make a record for 
history, and at the earnest solicitation of his friends, among 
them Hon. Gideon Welles, late Secretary of the Navy, he 
addressed a letter to Mr. Welles, reciting the story of his 
efforts which led up to the Monitor's construction. But 
before sending it to Mr. Welles and to make sure there were 
no statements contained in it that would not meet with the 
entire approval of Captain Ericsson, the letter was first 
sent to the inventor for his criticism. 

Ericsson F. Bushnell, a son whom Mr. Bushnell had named 
after the inventor, was given permission to forward the letter 
to Captain Ericsson, as he desii'ed to receive an autograph 
letter in reply. 

Captain Ericsson returned the letter March 2, 1877, saying 
he did "not think that any changes or additions were needed, 
the main facts being well stated." (See fac simile copy of 
Captain Ericsson's letter in Appendix.) 

The narrative was then sent to Gideon Welles, whose letter 
in reply, dated March 19, 1877 (printed in Appendix in fac- 
simile for the first time) was in entire harmony with the 
letter written by Captain Ericsson and fully corroborated 
Mr. Bushnell's recital of the facts and accorded him full 
credit for his timely assistance to the Navy Department 
and to the nation. 

The following is the letter to Hon. Gideon Welles, Secre- 
tary of the Navy: 



Hon. Gideon Welles : 

Bear Sir: — Sometime since, during a short conversation in regard to the 
little first Monitor, you expressed a desire to learn from me some of the 
unwritten details of her history; particularly, how the plan of the boat came 
to be presented to the Government and the manner in which the contract for 
her construction was secured. 

You doubtless remember handing me in August, iS6i, at Willard's 
Hotel in Washington, D. C, the draft of a Bill which 3^ou desired Congress 
should pass, in reference to obtaining some kind of ironclad vessels to meet 
the formidable preparations the Rebels were making at Norfolk, Mobile 
and New Orleans. At that ti lie you stated that you had already called the 
attention of Congress to this matter, but without effect. 

I presented this Bill to the Hon. James E. English, Member of Congress 
from my District, who fortunately was on the Naval Committee, and untir- 
ingly urged the matter on their attention. The Chairman of the Committee. 
A. H. Rice, of Massachusetts, also cooperated most heartily, so that in about 
thirty days, if I remember correctly, the Bill passed both Houses and was 
immediately signed by President Lincoln. The Bill required all plans of 
ironclad vessels to be submitted to a Board of Naval Officers, appointed by 
yourself. The Board consisted of Admirals Smith and Paulding and 
Captain Davis, wlio examined hundred of plans, good and bad, and among 
others that of a plated iron gunboat called the " Galena." contrived by 
Samuel H. Pook. now a constructor in the Navy Department. The partial 
protection of iron bars proposed for her seemed so burdensome that many 
naval officers warned me against the possibility of the " Galena's " being 
able to curry the additional weight of her armament. 

C. H. Delamater, of New York, advised me to consult with the 
Engineer, Capt. John Ericsson, on the matter. This I proceeded at once 
to do, and on supplying him Avith the data necessary for his calculations 
promptly gained the answer, "She will easily carry the load you propose 
and stand a six mch shot — if fired from a respectable distance." At the 
close of this interview, Captain Ericsson asked if I had time just then to 
examine the plan of a floating battery absolutely impregnable to the 
heaviest shot or shell. I replied that this problem had been occupying me 
for the last three months, and that considering the time required for the 
construction, the Galena was the best result I had been able to obtain. He 
then placed before me the plan of the Monitor; explaining how quickly 
and powerfully she could be built, and exhibiting with characteristic pride 
a medal and letter of thanks received from Napoleon HI. For it appears 
that Ericsson had invented the Battery when France and Russia were at 
war, and out of hostility to Russia had presented it to France, hoping 
thereby to aid the defeat of Sweden's hereditary foe. The invention, how- 
ever came too late to be of service and was preserved for another issue. 

You no doubt remember my delight with the plan of the Monitor when 
first CajJtain Ericsson entrusted it to my care; how I followed j'ou to Hart- 
ford and astounded you by saying that the country was safe because I had 
found a Battery which would make us masters of the situation so far as the 
ocean was concerned. You were much pleased, and urged me to lose no 
time in presenting the plan to the Naval Board at Washington. I secured 



at once the cooperation of wise and able associates in the persons of the late 
Hon. John. A. Griswold, of New York, and John F. Winslow, of Troy, both 
of them friends of Governor Seward and large manufacturers of iron plates, 
etc. Governor Seward furnished us with a strong letter of introduction to 
President Lincoln, who was at once greatly pleased with the simplicity of 
the plan and agreed to accompany us to the Navy Department at ii a. m. 
the following day and aid us as best he could. He was on hand promptly at 
II o'clock the day before you returned from Hartford. Captain Fox, 
together with a part of the Naval Board, were present. All were surprised 
at the novelty of the plan Some advised trying it, others ridiculed it. 
The conference was finally closed for that day by Mr. Lincoln's remarking. 
"All I have to say is what the girl said when she put her foot into the 
stocking, ' It strikes me there's something in it ! ' " 

The following day Admiral Smith convened the full Board, when I 
presented, as best I could, the plan and its merits, carefully noting the 
remarks of each member of the Board. I then went to my hotel quite san- 
guine of success, but only to be disappointed on the following day. For 
during the hours following the last session, I found that the air had been 
thick with croakings that the Department was about to father another 
Ericsson failure. Never was I more active than now in the effort to prove 
that Ericsson had never made a failure. That, on the contrary, he had 
built for the Government the first steam war propeller ever made; that the 
bursting of the gun was no fault of his, but of the shell, which had not 
been made strong enough to prevent its flattening up with the pressure of 
the explosion behind it, making the bursting of the gun unavoidable; that 
his caloric principle was a triumphant success, but that no metal had yet 
been found to utilize it on a large scale. I succeeded at length in getting 
Admirals Smith and Paulding to promise to sign a report advising the 
building of one trial batteiy, provided Captain Davis would join with 
them. On going to him I was informed that " I might take the little thing- 
home and worship it, as it would not be idolatry, because it was made in 
the image of nothing in the heaven above, or in the earth below, or in the 
waters under the earth." One thing only yet remained which it was possi- 
ble to do. This was to get Ericsson to come to Washington and plead the 
case himself. This I was sure would luijt the case, and so informed you, 
for Ericsson is a full electric battery in himself. You at once promised to 
have a meeting in your room if I could succeed in inducing him t(j come. 
This was exceedingly doubtful, for so badly had he been treated and so un- 
mercifully maligned in regard to the " Priiiceton" that he had repeatedly 
declared that he would never set foot in Washington again. 

Nevertheless, I appeared at his house the next morning precisely at 9 
o'clock and heard his sharp greeting: 

"Well! How is it?" 

" Glorious." said \. 

' Go on, go on! " said he, with impatience; " what did they say ? " 

" Admiral Smith says it is worthy of the genius of an Ericsson." The 
pride fairly gleamed in his eyes. 

" But Paulding, whatdid he say of it ? " 

He said: "It's just the thing to clear the ' Rebs ' out of Charleston 
with." 

14 



" How about Davis?" he inquired, as I appeared to hesitate a moment. 

"Oh, Davis," said I, " he wanted two or three explanations in detail 
which I could not give him, and so Secretary Welles proposed that I should 
come and get you to come to Washington and explain these few points to 
the entire Board in his room to-morrow." 

" Well, I'll go— I'll go to night." 

From that moment I knew the success of the affair was assured. You 
remember how he thrilled every person present in your room with his vivid 
description of what the little boat would be and what she could do; that in 
ninetv days' time she could be built, although the Rebels had already been 
four months at work on the Merrimac, with all the appliances of the Nor- 
folk Navy Yard to help them. 

You asked him how much it would cost to complete her. "Two hundred 
and seventy-five thousand dollars," he said. Then you promptly turned to 
the members of the Board, and one by one asked them if they would 
recommend that a contract be entered into for her construction with Cap- 
tain Ericsson and his associates. Each one answered, '■ Yes, by all means." 
Then you told Captain Ericsson to start her immediately. On the next day 
in New York a large portion of every article used in her construction was 
ordered, and a, contract at once entered into between Captain Ericsson and 
his associates and T. F. Rowland at Greene Point for the expeditious con- 
struction of the most formidable vessel ever made. It was arranged that 
after a few days I should procure a formal documentary contract from the 
Naval Board, to be signed and executed by the Secretary of the Navy, Capt. 
John Ericsson and associates. 

I regret that this part of the matter has been misunderstood, as though 
you had made terms heavier or the risk greater than you ought. The 
simple fact was that after we had entered upon the work of construction 
and before the formal contract had been awarded, a great clamor arose, 
much of it due to intei'ested parties, to the effect that the Battery 
would prove a failure and disgrace the members of the Board for their 
action in recommending it. For their own protection, therefore, and out of 
their superabundant caution, they insisted on inserting in the contract a 
clause requiring us to guarantee the complete success of the Battery, so that 
in case she proved a failure, the government might be refunded the 
amounts advanced to us from time to time during her construction. To 
Captain Ericsson and myself this was never an embarrassment But to 
Mr. Winslow, as indeed to Mr. Griswold also, it appeared that the Board had 
asked too much. But I know that the noble old Admiral Smith never in- 
tended that we should suffer, and among the many fortunate things for 
which the nation had occasion to be grateful — such as the providential 
selection as President in those dark days of the iminortal Lincoln and his 
wisely-chosen Cabinet — was the appointment of Admiral Smith to the 
charge of the navy yards, who always seemed to sleep with one eye open, 
so constant was his watchfulness and so eager his desire that the entire 
navy should always be in readiness to do its part in the overthrow of the 
Rebellion. 

I am confident that no native-born child of this country will ever forget 
the proud son of Sweden, who could sit in his own house and contrive the 

15 




« !;i 



three thousand different parts that go to make up the complete hull of the 
steam battery "Dictator," so that when the mechanics came to put the 
parts together, not a single alteration in any particular was required to be 
made. What the little first Monitor and the subsequent larger ones 
achieved is apart of history. 

One of my associates, as noble and generous a man as it is the lot of 
one ever to meet on earth, has gone to his rest — John A. Griswold — and 
fast shall we each and all follow, but it may be a pleasure to those that shall 
love our memory to find with your preserved records of those trying times 
this memorandum of the unrecorded private negotiations that resulted in 
the opportune meeting of the " cheesebox on the raft " with the ponderous 
Merrimac at Hampton Roads, March 9, 1862. 

Very respectfully, 

C. S. BUSHNELL. 
New Haven, Conn., March 9, 1877. 

Captain Ericsson's reply, certifying to the accuracy of the 

letter of Mr. C. S. Bushnell to Gideon Welles, printed above, 

was as follows : 

New York, March 2, 1S77. 

J/j' Deal- Sir: — I have read with much pleasure your father's state- 
ment to Mr. Welles concerning the construction of the original Monitor. 
I do not think that any changes or additions are needed, the main facts 
being well stated. 

Allow me to call your attention to the fact that your name should be 
spelt with a single r. 

Please find your father's paper enclosed. 

Yours very truly, 

J. ERICSSON. 
Ericsson F. Bushnell, Esq., 
New Haven. 

A fac-simile of this letter appears in the Appendix. 

Mr. Welles' reply to Mr. Bushnell 's letter was as follows : 

Hartford, 19th March, 1S77. 
C. S. Bushnell, Esq.: 

My Dear Sir: — I received on the i6th inst. your interesting com- 
munication, without date — relative to the construction of the Monitor. 
Many of the incidents nari'ated by you I remember, although more than 
fifteen years have gone by since they transpired. Some errors, not very 
essential and caused by lapse of years, occur, — Sedgwick, not Rice, was 
chairman of the Naval Committee; Griswold resided in Troy, not New 
York, and subsequently represented the Troy district in Congress, etc., etc. 

I well remember asking you to put in writing the facts in your posses- 
sion concerning the construction of the Monitor. Some statements of General 
Butler, Wendell Phillips and others to disparage the Navy Department, 
prevent the truth and deny us all credit, led Admiral Smith, m the Autumn 

3 17 



of 1868, to address to me a communication, reciting the facts, for, he said, 
when we were gone, those of us who took the responsibility and would have 
incurred the disgrace had Ericsson's invention proved a failure, would be 
ignored and history misstated. As you were more intimate with the case 
at its inception — were the first to bring it to the attention of the Department, 
it seemed to me proper that your recollections and knowledge of the trans- 
action should be reduced to writing. I am greatly obliged to you for the 
full and satisfactory manner in which you have complied with my request. 
Next, after Ericsson himself, you are entitled to the credit of bringing his 
invention to the knowledge of the Department. I would not, knowinglj', 
do injustice to any one, and I am well aware that the official in civil life, 
and who in administering the government directs movements by which 
naval and military men acquire renown, is often by the passing multitude 
little thought of and scarcely known, but the truth should not be sup- 
pressed. 

The civilians of the Navy Department, who adopted and pursued 
through ridicule and assault the ]\Ionitor experiment, Butler and others 
would slight and defame. In the history of the war, the Navy Department, 
which originated, planned and carried forward the naval achievements from 
Hatteras to New Orleans, and finally Fort Fisher, is scarcely known or men- 
tioned. The heroes who fought the battles and periled their lives to carry 
into effect the plan which the Department devised ha-^^e, deservedly, honor- 
able remembrance, but the originators and movers are little known. 

I remember, my dear sir, your earnest efforts in the early days of the 

war, and the comfort they gave me. 

Yours, 

GIDEON WELLES. 

A fac-simile of this letter appears in the Appendix. 

In August, 1885, Egbert Watson & Son, publishers of the 
" Mechanical Engineer" of New York, addressed to Mr. Bush- 
nell a series of questions in regard to the construction of the 
Monitor and the following is a copy of the reply, dated Madi- 
son, Conn., August 19, 1885, together with the acknowledg- 
ment, dated August 20, 1885: 

Egbkrt Watson & Son: 

Gcnflcmen: — Your favor of August 15th came duly to hand. In reply I 
submit the following answers to your questions: 

Question ist. Is this the same Galena about which Mr. Winslow claims 
to have been in Washington, when you introduced the ^Monitor plans to him ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question 2d. Had it then been decided to build the Galena ? 

Answer. Yes 

Question 3d. Had Winslow or Griswold any interest in (your) obtain- 
ing the Galena contract ? 

Answer. Yes, for I promised to employ them to plate the vessel in 
case I succeeded in obtaining the contract for her construction. 

iS 



THE MONITOR. 

DESIGNED BY JOHN ERICSSON. BUILT AT THE "CONTINENTAL 
IRON WORKS," GREENPOINT, L. L, 1861. 



SIDE ELEVATION. 




DECK PLAN. 




TRANSVERSE SECTION OF HULL AND TURRET. 




Question 4th. Were they associated with you in it ? 

Answer. Not otherwise than as just explained, viz., sub-contractors to 
plate her hull. 

Question 5th. Had you any relations with them that induced you to 
desire their aid in the Monitor matter apart fi-om their acquaintance with 
the Secretaries of War, State and Navy? 

Answer. No. 

Question 6th. What date was Delamater piesent? 

Answer. I am not able at this time to give exact dates of any of these 
transactions, as I have no docuiients at hand with which to verify them. 
I met Mr. C. H. Delamater on the steps of Willard's hotel, Washington, 
just after I had secured the contract for the Galena. When I told him that 
several naval men doubted whether the vessel would be able to carry the 
stipulated amount of iron, he advised me to consult Capt. John Ericsson, of 
New York. 

Question 7th. Did you personally know Captain Ericsson at that 
time ? 

Answer. No, nor had ever had any relations with him of any kind ; 
but acting upon the advice of Mr. Delamater, I went to New York on the 
following day and laid the plans of the Galena before him, asking him 
whether the vessel would be able to carry the specified armor. He told me 
to call the next day for his answer. This I did and found everything satis- 
factory. Before I left he asked if I would like to examine the plans of a 
Battery absolutely impregnable to shot or shell. I told him that I had been 
working for several months to obtain the best naval defence possible, with the 
Galena — an iron-plated wooden vessel — as the result. He then produced a 
small dust-covered box containing the model and plans for the Monitor, 
which he fully explained in detail. I was satisfied at once that the naval 
defence, which our country so greatly needed, had been found, and per- 
fectly overjoyed, when, at the close of the interview. Captain Ericsson 
entrusted the box with its precious contents to my care. 

Question 8th. How soon after the receipt of the plans of the Monitor 
was an interview had with Secretary Welles, and where ? 

Answer. On the following day, at Hartford, Conn. I left New York 
that night, and went to Hartford direct, without stopping at my home in 
New Haven, so eager was I to save time in bringing this great discovery 
to the knowledge of the Navy Department. Secretary Welles, who was 
spending a few days at Hartford, was delighted with the invention, and 
asked me to take the plan immediately to Washington, and present it to 
the Naval Board. 

Question 9th. Before going to Washington, did you call on Captain 
Ericsson, and at what date? 

Answer. I think I did, but am not sure. 

Question loth. On what date did you arrive in Washington ? 

Answer. I cannot remember the exact date. 

Question nth. Was the Monitor plan submitted to the Board before 
you interested Winslow and Griswold in it ? 

Answer. No, it was not. Immediately on reaching Washington I laid 
the plans _before Messrs. Winslow and Griswold, offering them a half 



interest in the enterprise, retaining a half interest for Captain Ericsson 
and myself, Ericsson having given me the liberty of making whatever 
terms I pleased. I selected these gentlemen because of their large 
acquaintance with Government authorities, and because I already had 
business relations with them, having contracted with them to plate the 
Galena. 

Question 12th. When was Seward's letter obtained? 
Answer. On the day after Winslow and Griswold agreed to unite with 
Ericsson and me in trying to secure a contract for the building of the 
Monitor. 

Question 13th. What date was the first interview with President Lin- 
coln ? 

Answer I cannot give the date. It occurred the (same) day we 
secured Secretary Seward's letter of introduction to the President. 
Question 14th. Who were present at that interview? 
Answer. No one, I think, but Messrs. Winslow, Griswold and myself. 
Question 15th Were 3^011 present when Mr. Lincoln was before the 
Naval Board ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question i6th. What date were you dismissed by Captain Davis' 
remark to "take the thing home and worship it? " 

Answer. The next day after the meeting referred to in question 15th, 
or possibly the next day but one. 

Question 17th. What day did you next call upon Captain Ericsson ? 
Answer. At the suggestion of Secretary Welles I started for New 
York that very night, alone, to induce Captain Ericsson to come on to 
Washington, for everything now depended t:pon hun. His presence 
before the Board was as essential to the adoption of the Monitor as his 
genius was necessary to her invention. Yet he had been so badly treated 
by the Government that he declared he never would set foot in Washington 
again. He was induced, however, to reconsider that decision and went to 
Washington that night. 

Question i8th. Were Winslow and Griswold present at this interview 
in New York, or did they meet you at any time before Captain Ericsson 
went to Washington ? 

Answer. No they were not present, nor did I see them until Ericsson 
returned from Washington with the verbal order to "go ahead and build 
her." 

Question 19th When was it agreed that Bushnell, Winslow and 
Griswold should be sureties and divide profits in four equal shares ? 

Answer. Bushnell, Winslow and Griswold were not " sureties " at 
all. The agreement between the contractors was made in Washington on 
the day before the application for letter of introduction to Lincoln was 
made to Secretary Seward. (See answer to question nth.) The Govern- 
ment required us to obtain sureties, and these I found in the persons of 
Hon. N. D. Sperry, of New Haven, and Daniel Drew, of New York. 

Question 20th. Were Winslow and Griswold present when Captain 
Ericsson argued his cause before the Naval Board? 

Answer. I cannot say, as I did not myself return with Captain Ericsson. 




CAI'T. JOHN L. WOKUEN, 
U. S. NAVY. 




LIEUT. S. DANA GREENE, 
U. S. NAVY. 



So much for your questions. I might add that one week following the 
return of Ericsson from Washington with the verbal order to " go ahead," 
I went to Washington and procured a written contract. This contained 
an unlooked-for conditional clause, requiring us to guarantee the success of 
the Monitor. To this Mr. Winslow seriously objected. Captain Ericsson 
and I gave him one week in which to reconsider the matter, another party 
standing ready to take his place in case he refused to sign the contract. 
The following week he came down from Troy with Mr. Griswold, and 
together with Captain Ericsson and myself signed the contract. 

Very truly yours, 

C. S. BUSHNELL. 
Madison, Conn., August 19, 1885. 

I certif}^ that the above is a correct copy. 

William S. Wells. 
New Haven, Conn., March i, 1899, 

The follow^ing; is Mr. Watson's reply : 

New York, August 20, 1885. 
150 Nassau sti'eet. 
Hon. C. S. Bushnell, Esq., Madison, Conn.: 

Dear Sir : — I have your favor of the 19th in answer to ours of the 15th 
concerning the Monitor. I thank you for the explicit manner in which you 
have answered the questions. 

Respectfully yours, 

EGBERT P. WATSON, 
Mccha)i2cal Engitieer. 

A fac- simile of above letter of Egbert P. Watson appears 
in the Appendix. 



The following is an extract from a paper read by Mr. 
Bushnell before the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut at 
their annual meeting on June 22, 1894, at the Fort Griswold 
House, Connecticut. Mr. Bushnell was elected an honorary 
member of the Club at this meeting. Judge A. B. Beers, of 
Bridgeport, Conn., was the presiding officer. 

Judge Beers : The gentleman to whom the last speaker 
has so eloquently referred, the Hon. C. S. Bushnell, of New 
Haven, Conn., is with us to-night as the guest of the Club, 
and he will tell you how the Monitor was built. I introduce 
the honorable gentleman to you. [Applause.] 

23 



MR. BUSHNELL. 
Coiin-adcs of the Army and Nat'y Club: 

I greet you and am happy to meet you to-night and tell the old old 
story once again. Lest I weary you by long speech, I have prepared and 
written out, as particularly and concisely as possible, the simple history. 
And I think it is fitting, at this place and under the circumstances sur- 
rounding us, that I should precede it with a little history of the railroad 
which preceded the contract for the Monitor, and was really the providen- 
tial cause leading up to it. In the old blue-covered spelling-book, pub- 
lished for so many years by Babcock, and used in all the Connecticut com- 
mon schools sixty years ago, there were several sage utterances, among 
which was this : "Old men tell what they have done, yotmg men what 
they will do, and fools what they can do." The simple and accurate his- 
tory of the design and construction of the Monitor, and the prior events 
that led up to the historical event at Hampton Roads, by your request are 
the subjects of my remarks. 

********* 

"The Rebs were hard at work on the Merrimac, a splendid ship, with en- 
gine and boilers all complete, and the vessel only waiting for the iron plating. 
Conferring with Secretary Welles about it, I learned that he had called the 
attention of Congress to the need of ironclad defence early in the session. 
He remarked that he would draw up a bill and bring it down to Willard's 
Hotel that night if I would undertake to engineer it through Congress, 
which I did quickly, with the help of ex-Governor James E. English, a mem- 
ber of the Naval Committee. A contract for the ironclad Galena was at 
once given me, and William Cramp & Sons, of Philadelphia, received a con- 
tract to build the Ironsides, a formidable and most useful ship, that did 
grand service; and how could she help it, when one of the chief officers on 
board of her was our friend Engineer Wells, now at this board ? But it is 
well known that neither the Galena nor the Ironsides could be built in 
time to meet the expected Merrimac. 

It was claimed by several builders that the Galena would not be able 
to carry the proposed load of iron. I mentioned this to Cornelius H. Dela- 
mater, who was in Washington, at Willard's, the day I was awarded the con- 
tract for the Galena, and he told me to make sure by consulting Capt. John 
Ericsson, upon whom I called the next day in New York, furnishing him 
plans and specifications. "Come in to-morrow morning," he said, "and 
you shall have my decision." The result was as I expected. He declared 
that the Galena would carry the load just as Mr. Pook had figured, and 
resist a six-inch shot, but he further inquired if I would not like to see and 
have a plan of an impregnable Battery that could be built in ninety days, 
most likely in time to meet and destroy the Merrimac. My answer was I 
had been at work for several months to plan and provide an apology for 
such a boat. 

When he opened an old dusty box and unfolded the merits and plans 
of the little boat in model form, it was less than^en minutes before I fully 
awoke to the fact that salvation was in store for our Government and coun- 
try. And I so assured Captain Ericsson. He turned the plans, box and 

24 







JOHN F. WINSLOW, 




JOHN 



A. GRISWOLD. 



all over to me to handle, just as I desired, saying that I might allow him 
such interest or compensation as I thought best. I was well aware of the 
great anxiety of the President, Mr. Lincoln; and Messrs. Seward and 
Welles were also anxious lest England should join France in recognizing 
the Confederacy and allowing them belligerent rights, having listened to a 
discussion on the subject at a reception at the house of Secretary Welles 
the evening prior. As Secretary Welles went to Hartford the day I came 
to New York, and as time was the all important factor in that race, I fol- 
lowed him past my home in New Haven, direct to his home in Hartford, 
and assured him that he need not further worry about foreign interference; 
I had discovered the means of perfect protection. 

He seemed much pleased with my faith in the model, as I was able to 
explain it to him, and he requested me to lose no time in going to Wash- 
ington, and have the Board of Navy Officers examine and recommend the 
plan, and he would come down early in the next week, and give me a con- 
tract. 

Mind you, this was Friday, and I had not had the plans in hand twenty- 
four hours, but I started Saturday evening, arriving in Washington Sunday 
morning, and immediately after breakfast summoned my sub-contractors 
for the iron work on the Galena to take a quiet ride with me into the 
suburbs of Washington, and as I went I disclosed to them, Messrs. Wins- 
low and John A. Griswold, of Troy, what a godsend I had found. 

I further told them, notwithstanding the intrinsic and priceless value 
of the plan, we should meet great opposition from old navy prejudice, owing 
to the sad results of the explosion of the Princeton gun, and the failure of 
the big caloric ship — Ericsson had cautioned me to beware, on this account, 
when he turned over the plans. After mature reflection and discussion we 
decided to call, all together, the next morning (Monday) first on Secretary 
Seward. 

He gave us a very nice letter to President Lincoln, who was more than 
pleased with the plan, remarking that he knew but little about boats unless 
it was a flat boat, one of which he was master of in early life. And as the 
little boat or model we showed him the plan of was flat as need be, he un- 
derstood the good points from the start, and while he said he had no power 
in the matter, he would meet us at the office of Admiral Smith at eleven 
the next morning (Tuesday). 

He and we were on hand, big with hope, at the appointed hour and 
place, and compelled to listen to nothing but disparaging criticism from all 
the old and young officers of the Navy, with the exception of Admirals 
Paulding and Smith, two of the Board. Mr. Lincoln sat and listened for 
nearly an hour to all those opposed could say. Then Admiral Smith turned 
to the President and asked him what he thought of the novel little plan. 
Mr. Lincoln arose from his low chair, where he had been so attentively list- 
ening, and said, " he thought a good deal as the western girl did when she 
stuck her foot in the stocking, that there was something in it." That was 
all, and he bade us good morning and left. 

On that, Smith and Paulding were ready to recommend the adoption 
of the plan if Captain Davis, the other member of the Board, would unite 
with them, but would not take the risk without a unanimous Board. It 

26 



was in vain that I pleaded the pressing needs of the country. Davis finally- 
told me to take home the plans and worship them, "as they were not like 
anything in the heavens above, or the earth beneath, or in the waters under 
the earth." With a sad heart I reported to Secretary Welles. All was dark 
about me for an hour that Tuesday, but Secretary Welles cheered me up by 
saying that some influence should be brought to bear on Davis. I caught 
the idea, and said to him if I could only get Ericsson to come to Washing- 
ton himself to meet the Board together, in Secretary Welles' room, the 
magnetism of Ericsson would carry all before him. 

I might say to you that I have never met a man possessed of more 
power to magnetize and carry his audience with him than Captain Ericsson. 
He got capitalists to put their money into that caloric ship just as freely as 
water, although it was only an experiment. No one could hope it would be 
a success, but he wanted to try it. It was a perfect success on a small scale; 
but when he came to enlarge it and make a large engine, the expansion and 
contraction of the metal was such that it was a failure. He and Delamater 
made $300,000 on those little three-horse power pumping engines, which 
worked to a charm. I told Secretary Welles that Ericsson had bound him- 
self under oath never to come to Washington until he had been paid by 
the United States Government his long overdue engineering bill for the 
Princeton. 

Nevertheless I determined to try. I started for New York that Tues- 
day night, and all the way to Baltimore I thought, " How in the world can 
I get that man to go, with the state of facts I have to relate ? " Then I 
remembered the flash of his eye and the brightening up of his countenance 
when he showed me a beautiful gold medal that Louis Napoleon sent him 
when with England fighting Russia. — the Swedes all hate Russia. In an 
instant, riding through Baltimore, it came to my mind, " I will get him on 
his vanity; " and it occurred to me just how I could do it. I went to the 
Astor House that night, and arrived at his hotise on Franklin street at 
exactly nine o'clock the next morning. He did not wait for his girl Ann to 
come and let me in, but he came himself to the door. Said he, "What 
is the result?" I said, "Magnificent." "Well," he said, "What?" I 
said. "Paulding says that your boat would be the thing to punish 
those Rebels at Charleston." His countenance lit up. I knew then 
that I had him. I said, "You have a friend in Washington, Commodore 
Smith; he worships you. He says those plans are worthy of the genius of 
an Ericsson." Didn't fire come in his eyes? "You see how it works," I 
said. "Captain Davis wants a little explanation in detail which I could 
not give." He said, " I will go to-day; " and he started. I did not go with 
him, mind you. Who do you suppose was the first man he met at the 
Navy Department? The first man he met was Captain Davis, to whom he 
said: " I have come down, at the suggestion of Captain Bushnell, to explain 
about the plan of the Monitor.'" "What," said Davis, "the little plan 
Bushnell had here Tuesday; why we rejected it in ioto." 

"Rejected it! What for?" said Ericsson. "For want of stabilit3%" 
said Davis. " Stability," roared Ericsson. " No craft that ever floated 
was more stable than she would be; that is one of her great merits." 
" Prove it," said Davis, " and we will recommend it at once." " I will go 

27 




DANIEL DREW. 



to my hotel and prepare the proof," said Ericsson. <■ and meet your Board 
at the Secretary s room at t o'clock." At the hour named he was on hand 
and showed, as he could easily by diagram, her great stabil^ and then 

ZTtlXr '''''yp^\fl h-- ^---1 merits'closing with'the st t 
ment that there was offered the perfect means of defence against the J/^r- 

LfeTy and defence ''^^'''' ^^^^^' '^^^^"^ ^° ^^^ '^^ ^ ^- ^- 

Secretary Welles asked the price. Ericsson replied. " I275 000 " same 
as we had named previously. He turned to AdmLl Paulding "nd safd 
••Id '?°L"' ; r^^^f "^-^^' " I vote to recommend th! contract " 
Smith A fZf ."''''■ "^"^ ^" >^°" '^y'" "' vote for it" said 

d" s- ThenS . r.^'' "'^^^^'^ ^^^'^^ " " ^ ^^^ ^^ ^V' said 
Davis^ Then Secretary Welles said to Captain Ericsson, " Go home and 

^onlcT-' """'"'^^" '"' ^^"' ^-^^^"^^^^ ^°^^- next week for thelrmat 

Ericlof ^'"1"''^^'' ^f'" ^'°'^' ""' ^""^^ ^^"^y^"S the presence of Captain 

haf. T r °"'^ ^''^ '"'^^ ^"P^^"^ ^^vis. but the result was as I 

had expected, most satisfactory. 

retu™"anL'^."''r' '''''T'''' "^^ "^^^^^' "^^^ ^^P^^" Ericsson on h:s 
lose no time Th ^"^^^'^^^"^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^e had to expedite the work and 

Z pTa^Tin Jy'hald:.^^" ''''' '''' ^''^ ^^^ ''^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ 

Fortunately. M.e gave the work of building the enmne and boilers and 

t^:^T^r '^ '• ^. ^K^^™^^^^ ^ "°- -'° ^'^^ ^ '^^^ uTmo'rirdri e 

RowW "''''" "'^*"^ °' '^^ '''''' and turret to Thomas F. 

of th^!'" hr/'"'^ •''^^' ^''™"'^^ ^'°™ Connecticut, and has long been one 

kno'ntobelo'T^r ""' '^^^"""^^ ^"^ ^^^ constructors. Ld is only 
knou n to be loved and respected by friend and acquaintance. 

is a L::h oMel man'^'^^' "^^ ^^ ''''^' ^"^^ ^^^'^^'^^ ^ ^^^ ^P^^^- -'- 
Well. I went down to Washington to get the formal contract the next 

•' An;therT^'''' T'/°' ^ ^'^"^^ '^^ ^°™^ ^^^ ^^^ ^P^'^t of th Boa d 
Another Encsson failure," they all predicted, and the only contract I 

s^: L': t":Zr''' ^^^ ^"^ ''-'' -qmred a guarantee olthe pert 
success of the boat m every particular, or the return of the advance monev 

h fdTermrrt th Vf'^ T""' ^^- ^"'^^^"^^^^^^ ^^'^^^ -' ^^^^ seemed to me 
W nslow 1 i'cv 1 f ' ' ^ "^'^°" "'^^ ^' ^^^^^ ^^^ Ericsson said go on. 
min slid f I T.' ""rrr' "'" ^^""^^ ^^"^- Griswold, aspfendid 
renuired th. 1 "^ bondsmen to back us, which the government 

and mys'elf "^ ^" '" '"' "^^^"^^ ^'^ "'"^^-^^^ ^^^^ CaptL Ericsson 

Of course I consented, and was able to get Daniel Drew and the Hon 

LoV ^ .?■ r '"' ^'"'"' '° ''^'' °^"- ^-^d. the latter willing to do 
almost anythmg I said was necessary to help the cause. Long may le live 
and enjoy the respect of our people ^ ' 

dowrL%onI- °^f ""''"""^"°^'^""^ "^^ ^^^^-S °f tl- little boat 
down to Fortress Monroe in the nick of time 



29 



Few know that by reason of the great caution of Admiral Dahlgren 
only fifteen pounds of powder were used at a charge in the ii-inch guns on 
the Monitor. 

Captain Ericsson was confident that if thirty pounds had been allowed, 
instead of fifteen, in her guns, the Merriinac would have been sunk inside 
of thirty minutes after the battle opened. But she did remarkably well as 
it was, and her memory will be cherished in connection with the officers 
and men that fought on her, for generations after we are all passed away. 

Judge Beers: I move a vote of thanks to Mr. Bushnell for 
his very able and interesting address. 

Carried unanimously, by acclamation. 

A Member: I don't like to interrupt the proceedings, but 
I want to ask Mr. Bushnell one question. It has often been 
reported that Captain Ericsson never received a cent of 
bounty or pecuniary compensation. Is there any truth in it? 
I have read it in the papers over and over again, that Erics- 
son never received any compensation from the Government. 

Mr. Bushnell: It is a matter of history, and everybody 
should know it, that he was one-fourth interested. I gave 
him one-fourth, took one-fourth m3'self, and gave one-fourth 
to Mr. Griswold, and one fourth to Mr. Winslow. I made 
him independent through that effort. I have no hesitation 
in taking a little credit for that. It is, however, a well-known 
fact that our Government has never yet paid Ericsson for his 
services as engineer in the construction of the pioneer steam 
war propeller Fn'/iccton. 



The following is a copy of the original contract with the 
Government for building the Monitor : 

COPY OF CONTRACT WITH THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR 
BUILDING THE "MONITOR." 

This Contract, in two parts, made and entered into this Fourth day of 
October, Anno Domini, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-one, be- 
tween y. Ericsson of the City of New York, as principal, and John F. 
Winslow, John A. Griswold and C. S. Bushnell, as sureties on the first 
part, and Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, for and in behalf of 
the United States on the .second part, Witnesseth: — 

That in consideration of the payments hereinafter provided for, the 
party of the first part hereby contracts and agrees to construct an Iron-Clad- 
Shot- Proof Steam Battery of iron and wood combined on Ericsson's p'an; 
the lower vessel to be wholly of iron, and the upper vessel of wood; the 
length to be one hundred and seventy-nine (179) feet, extreme breadth 41 

30 




N. D. SPERRY. 



feet and depth 5 feet, or larger, if the party of the first part shall think it 
necessary to carry the armament and stores required. The vessel to be 
constructed of the best materials and workmanship throughout, according 
to the plan and specifications hereto annexed forming a part of this con- 
tract; and in addition to said specifications the party of the first part here- 
by agrees to furnish masis , spars, sails and riggiui^ oi sufficient dimen- 
sions to drive the vessel at the rate of Six Knots per hour in a fair breeze 
of wind, and the said party of the first part will also furnish in addition to 
the said specifications a Condenser for making fresh water for the boilers 
on the most approved plan. And the party of the first part further con- 
tracts and engages that the said vessel shall have proper accommodations 
for her stores of all kinds, including provisions for one hundred persons for 
ninety days, and shall carry 2500 gallons of water in tanks; that the vessel 
shall have a speed of Eight sea miles or knots per hour under steam for 
twelve consecutive hours, and carry fuel for her engines for eight day's 
consumption at that speed, the deck of the vessel when loaded to be 
Eighteen inches above load line amidships; that she shall possess suffi- 
cient stabilty with her armament, stores, and crew on board for safe 
sea-service in traversing the Coast of the United States; that her crew shall 
be properly accommodated, and that the apparatus for working the Battery 
shall prove successful and safe for the purpose intended, and that the ves- 
sel, machinery and apj^ointments in all their parts shall work to the entire 
satisfaction of the party of the second part. 

And the party of the second part hereby agrees to pay for the vessel 
completed as aforesaid after trial and satisfactory test the sum of Two 
hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars in coin or Treasury notes at 
the option of the party of the second part in the following manner, to wit — 
When the work shall have progressed to the amount of Fifty thousand 
dollars in the estimation of the Superintendent of the vessel on the part of 
the United States, that sum shall be paid to the party of the first part on 
certificate of said Superintendent, and thereafter similar payments ac- 
cording to the certificates of said Superintendent, deducting, reserving and 
retaining from each and every payment, T^uenty five per centum, which. 
reservation shall be retained until after the completion and satisfactory 
trial of the vessel, not to exceed ninety days after she shall be ready 
for sea. 

And it is further agreed between the said parties that the said 
vessel shall be completed in all her parts and appointments for service, and 
any omission in these specifications shall be supplied to make her thus 
complete ; and in case the said vessel shall fail in performance for speed 
for sea-service as before stated, or in the security or successful working of 
the turret and guns with safety to the vessel and the men in the turret, or 
in her buoyancy to float and carry her Battery as aforesaid, then, and 
in that case, the party of the first part hereby bind themselves, their heirs, 
executors, administrators and assigns, by these presents, to refund to the 
United States the amount of money advanced to them on said vessel 
within thii-ty days after such failure shall have been declared by the party 
of the second part, and the party of the first part acknowledge themselves 
indebted to the United States in liquidated damages to the full amount of 
money advanced as aforesaid. 

32 



And it is further agreed that the vessel shall be held by the United 
States as collateral security until said amount of money advanced as afore- 
said shall be refunded. 

And the party of the first part does further engage and contract that 
no member of Congress, officer of the navy, or any person holding any 
office or appointment under the Navy Department, shall be admitted to 
any share or part of this contract or agreement, or to any benefit to arise 
thereupon. And it is hereby expressly provided, and this contract is upon 
this express condition, that if any such member of Congress, officer of the 
navy, or persons above named shall be admitted to any .share or part 
of this contract, or to any benefit to arise under it, or in case the party of 
the first part shall in any respect fail to perform this contract on their part, 
the same may be at the option of the United States, declared null and void' 
without affecting their rights to recover for defaults which may have 
occurred. 

It is further agreed between the said parties that said vessel and 
equipments in all respects shall be completed and ready for sea in one 
Jniiidrcd days from the date of this indenture. 

Signed, .sealed and delivered 
in presence of W. L. Barnes 
to the signatui-es of 

J. Ericsson, J. Ericsson, 

John F. Winslow, John F. Winslow, 

John A. Griswold, John A. Griswolu, 

C. S. Bushnell. C. S. Bushnell. 

Gideon Welles, 

TO-., ■ Secre/ary of //le Navv. 

Jos. Smith as to signature of G. Welles. ^ 

Southern District of New York, SS. 

I do hereby certify that in my judgment. John F. Winslow. John A. 
Griswold and Cornelius S. Bushnell, the sureties in the foregoing "contract 
are sufficient to pay any sum that may be demanded of them in pursuance 
of the terms thereof. And I further certify, that I have made diligent 
inquiry before giving this certificate. 

C. Del.^field .Smith, 

New York, October 4, 1861. -^ 

It is understood between the contracting parties that after the Battery 
shall be ready for sea and be taken possession of by the government for the 
purpose of testing her properties as stipulated in the contract, such posses- 
sion shall be regarded as accepting the vessel so far only as the workman- 
ship and quality of materials are concerned, and that the test of the quali- 
ties and properities of the vessel as provided shall be made as soon there- 
after as practicable, not to exceed ninety days ; the reservation of twenty- 
five per cent, to be wnthheld until the test is made. 

1-7 f n J. -^ .. . r GIDEON WELLES, 

y /len foUoiv specifications in detail. 

33 



The following- letter verifies the above as being a copy of 
the original contract: 

Department of the Navv Bureau ok Yards and Docks, 
Washington, D. C, November 7, 1894. 

Dear Sir: Your letter of the 19th ultimo was laid before the Chief of 
the Bureau, who gave me permission, in the absence of the chief clerk, to 
make a copy of the contract and specifications of an impregnable and float- 
ing battery (the celebrated iron clad) for your personal use, as requested. 

I enclose the copy referred to above, and would be pleased to hear if 

I can further serve you. 

Very respectfvilly, 

(Signed) ROB'T H. YEATMAN. 

Clerk. 
Mr. W. G. BusHNEi.L, New Haven, Conn. 

As soon as practicable after this contract of October 4, 
1861, was made with the government, the formal contract for 
building the hnll and turret of the vessel, as stated above, 
by Mr. Bushnell, was made on the 25th of October, 1861, 
with Thos. F. Rowland, of the Continental Iron Works, at 
Greenport, L. I. 

Mr. Rowland is still active in business, and the writer had 
the pleasure of an interview with him in his office at the Con- 
tinental Iron Works on June 14, 1899, at which titne he showed 
me the original contract ; kindly gave me a fac-simile copy 
of the same, which is, by his permission, printed herewith. 
The contract reads as follows : 

This Agreement, made and entered into this twenty-fifth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1861, by and between Thomas F. Rowland, Agent, in behalf of 
the " Continental Iron Works," Greenpoint, Brooklyn, of the first part, and 
Captain J. Ericsson, of New York; Messrs. John F. Winslow and John A. 
Griswold, of Troy, N. Y., and C. S. Bushnell, of New Haven Connecticut, 
parties of the second part. 

Wituesseth : That the party of the first part, for and in consideration 
of a cei'tain sum hereinafter mentioned to be paid to him by the parties of 
the second part, hereby covenants and agrees to furnish all the tools and 
facilities, and do all the labor necessary to execute the iron work of an 
Iron Battery hull (it being understood that the new ship house now being 
erected is at the expense of the parties of the second part), said Battery to 
be constructed from the plans and directions which have been or may be 
furnished the said party of the first part by Captain Ericsson. The partj^ 
of the first part hereby further agrees to do the said work in a thorough 
and workmanlike manner and to the entire satisfaction of Captain Ericsson 
in the shortest possible space of time. And the party of the first part 
agrees to launch said Battery safely and at his own risk and cost on the 
East River, then and there * * * » delivering her to the parties of 

35 



the second part. It is also understood that in consideration of the liberal 
price hereafter stipulated to be paid by the party of the second part, that 
jn case the work is not prosecuted with all the vigor and energy practica- 
ble, then and in that case Captain Ericsson is hereby empowered to in- 
struct the party of the first part to employ a greater number of men or to 
work a greater number of hours, and which instruction the party of the 
first part hereby agrees to comply with in order that the work may be com- 
pleted in the shortest possible space of time as contemplated by this agree- 
ment. The parties of the second part hereby agree to furnish all the ma- 
terial for the construction of said Battery, delivering the same at the 
" Continental Iron Works" as soon as practicable after receiving a specifi- 
ca.tion of the materials required for the construction of said Battery. In 
consideration of the full and faithful performance of these presents by the 
party of the first part, the parties of the second part hereby covenant and 
agree to pay the party of the first part the sum of seven and one-half (yj^) 
cents per pound (net weight) of iron used in the construction of said hull 
by the party of the first part, payments to be made weekly in proportion to 
the progress of the work, the balance remaining to be paid when the hull 
is launched. The parties to this instrument hereby mutually agree 
that should any alteration in the plans furnished by Captain Ericsson 
be desired after the same have been e.Kecuted, the party of the first part 
shall make any alterations that may be deemed desirable by Captain 
Ericsson at the expense of the parties of the second part. 

Witness the hands and seals of the said parties the day and year before 

written. 

J. ERICSSON, [seal] 

J. F. WINSLOW, [se..\l] 

JOHN A. GRISWOLD, [seal] 

ti [seal] 

THOS. F. ROWLAND, Age'nf. [seal] 

Witness to the signature of J. Ericsson : 

C. W. MacCord. 

Witness to the signatures of J. F. Wins- 
low and John A. Griswold : 

F. Ells. 

Witness to the signature of T. F. Rowland : 

Warren E. Hill. 

It will be observed that the place in above sub-contract is vacant 
where Mr. Bushnell's signature should appear. He was a very busy man 
at this period and doubtless could not be present when this sub-contract 
was executed with the builder, for it is observed that his name appears in 
the text of the contract as one of the parties of the second part. 

36 




THE U. S. S. "GALENA. 




SAMUEL H. POOK, 

Naval Constructor. 



In the foregoing several statements of Mr. Bnshnell it is 
observed that he refers to a bond exacted by the Govern- 
ment as surety for money advanced in the building of the 
Monitor. Search has been made for this bond, but thus far 
without finding it. The following correspondence with Hon. 
N. D. Sperry, our present member of Congress, and the sur- 
viving bondsman, will set the question of this bond at rest: 

New Haven, Conn., June 3, iSgg. 
Hon. N. D. Sperrv, City. 

My Dear Sir : — You will recall I stated to you a few days ago, that 
although search has been made for the bond that you and Daniel Drew 
signed, still it has not yet been found, and may not be. 

Therefore, in lieu of this document, in case it does not come to light, I 
wish you would kindly write me how it was that you went on the bond 
with Daniel Drew, and the natiire of the bond. 

I wish the letter for publication (with your permission) in my pamphlet, 
m connection with the other data and documents I have relating to Mr. 
Bushnell and the building of the " Monitor." 

Yours very truly, 

WM. S. WELLS. 

New Haven, Conn., June 9, 1S99. 

Mk. William S. Wells, New Haven, Conn.: 

A/j Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 3d inst. duly received. I dislike 
to give out anything for publication in relation to the bond referred to, as 
Mr. Bushnell's reference to it should be sufficient. 

I will, however, at your request, state that I was asked by Mr. Bush 
nellto go upon the bond in question, simply as svirety to the government for 
money advanced in building the " Monitor," and the conditions specified in 
the Government contract. 

I remember it was on Sunday, March 9, the day of the battle of the 
" Monitor" and the " Merrimac," that I was in the office of the Joitr)ial 
ajid Courier here in New Haven with Mr. Bushnell and others, receiving 
news as the encotmter was taking place. When word came that the 
" Monitor" had whipped the "Merrimac," ]\Ir. Bushnell, who was at my 
side, slapped his hands on my shoulders vigorously and said: " My dear 
friend Sperry, your bond is safe." 

There was great rejoicing at that moment, and many remarked that if 
it had not been for the construction of this little vessel just in the nick of 
time, the " Merrimac " could have laid the whole coast under contribution. 

Mr. Bushnell's address before the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, 

together with other documents I have seen, should, in the absence of the 

bond at this time, forever set at rest any questions that might arise in 

regard to such a bond having been made and signed by Daniel Drew and 

myself. 

Very truly yours, 

N. D. SPERRY. 
38 



In the foregoing story by Mr. Bushnell, it will be observed that he 
does not claim to have built the vessel, did not perform the mechanical 
work, but accords full credit and appreciation of those who gave support 
to his undertaking. 

He had not only to contend with opposition at the inception of the pro- 
ject, but the question of mechanical skill and materials was one of the most 
vital importance to success. This dif^culty, like others, was effectually 
overcome, for it will be observed that he states in his letter to Hon. Gideon 
Welles, "I secured at once the co-operation of Hon. John A. Griswold and 
John F. Winslow, of Troy, large manufacturers of iron plates" It 
will be seen also in the contract with Thomas F. Rowland of the Conti- 
nental Iron Works, that the " parties of the second part " were to " furnish 
all the materials for the construction of said battery, delivering the same 
at the Continental Iron Works." Therefore to Mr. Griswold and Mr. 
Winslow much credit is due for the substantial aid that admitted of the 
vessel's construction. 

When the prow of the Merrimacwas finally turned toward Norfolk after 
her defeat, and the news was flashed over the land, the beginning of the end 
of the war could be reasonably inferred, for new hope came to the loyal 
hearts of the country; a ray of light came from the gloom, stimulating the 
nation to renewed activity. Men rushed to the ranks to defend the 
rightful supremacy of our flag, and the wealth of our people was poured 
into our treasury for a vigorous prosecution of the war to a glorious termi- 
nation. 

After this battle of the Monitor and Merrimac, the navies of the world 
had to be at once rebuilt on new lines, the old defences became obsolete, 
and the vast development of armaments and the stimulus given to the 
production and working of iron and steel may be truly dated from the 
building of the Monitor. 

To John Ericsson's talent we owe a debt of gratitude, but his invention 
was of no practical value until another more bold and resourceful appeared 
who developed the ideas of the inventor's mind. In referring to this battle 
we must not be unmindful of Capt. John L. Worden and his gallant crew, 
and appreciative remembrance should be had of Lieut. S Dana Greene, who 
fought the ship to a final success after Captain Worden had been wounded. 

In monarchial countries, one who performed such a service as Mr. 
Bushnell did. would have received royal favors. Decorations and honorable 
titles would have been bestowed in profusion, and sculptors would have 
been busy in erecting monuments to his memory. 

Let us, sovereigns of a great nation, be not unmindful of our duty to a 
great benefactor of our country and the world. We neglected him and 
failed to appreciate him living. Let us now make amends for our blindness 
or indifference and bend our energies to erect to him a suitable memorial 
in New Haven, the city of his home, that will be in some measure com- 
memorative of our gratitude for his devoted, generous, self-sacrificing and 
patriotic life, and a fit testimonial of our appreciation of what he has done 
for the good of our whole people, and the benefit of the entire world, by 
his rare and beneficent public service. 

New Haven, Conn., 

September, 1S99. 

39 




p 





THE ARMY AND NAVY CLUB OF CONNECTICUT. 

Col. David Torrance, President of the Army and Navy 
Club and Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecti- 
cut, paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of Mr. Bushnell, as 
follows : 

Extract from report of annual meeting, held at New Lon- 
don, June 26, 1896. 

Referring to the Death Roll, the Honorable David Tor- 
rance, President of the Club, spoke as follows : — 

"And among the latest to go, only last month, was one, an honorary 
member, by no means the least in our regard and esteem, one to whom 
only two years ago we listened with such pleasure as he told the simple story 
of his connection with the Monitor. You have not forgotten that dismal 
Saturday in March, 1862, when the Merrimac, steaming from behind Crane's 
Island, annihilated our navy in an hour; crushing the Cumberland like an 
eggshell, and sending her gallant crew to the bottom; burning the Con- 
gress to the water's edge, and steaming back to her anchorage with colors 
flying, unhurt of all our batteries. Naval architecture and naval ordnance 
had been revolutionized since noon. Our ships were as paper, our cannon 
as pop-guns. The monster could laugh at our forts and frigates. And 
there it was, ready on the morrow, flushed with victory, conscious of power, 
to go wherever the waters would float her, resistless as fate, to raise the 
blockade, to bombard New York, to sweep our commerce from the seas. 
As we took in the full meaning of that afternoon's work, did not the bravest 
shudder for what the morning might bring? But at eventide there was 
light. About ten o'clock that night the little " cheesebox on a raft " was 
towed into Hampton Roads. The Government had not built her nor paid 
for her, and the red tape of the naval bureaus had all but laughed her to 
scorn. But there she was, in the very nick of time; and on Sunday, after 
a terrible conflict, she sent the Merrimac back to her anchorage, wounded 
to death, never more to work us harm. 

How came the Monitor there at that opportune moment? You heard 
the story two years ago. It was chiefly because a Connecticut Yankee, 
months before, had the sagacity to perceive, in the small model shown to 
him by the Swedish genius, the vessel for the hour; and not only the sagacity 
to perceive, but the influence, the pluck, the grit, the persistence, to force 
the Government to give it a trial, and patriotic enough and having faith 
enough in his judgment to back it with all his capital. All honor to the 
Monitor and her gallant commander and crew. All honor to the genius 
that modeled her and built her. But let us not foi-get to add, all honor to 
the man who was so largely instrumental in placing her where she would 
do the most good at the right time, Cornelius S. Bushnell." 



41 



APPENDIX. 



FAC-SIMILE LETTERS. 

I— Cai't. John Ericsson. 
2— Hon. Gideon Welles. 
3— Egbert P. Watson, 
4 — Military Discharge. 



43 



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t^a-^ — 



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44 







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for tl;e, ^hop-^'^ig'^^auo £uciiug.J^OQm/ 



f(^r»i« **•""': >i 




150 A'assiui-st Ne-ixj-York C-'CUj^ J^ /88^.. 




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49 




^ai|§^,<#^ 



',•'"'[ """■'ii^iiiiiiiii' 

p' ._. LSUtilllllllniiiiin. 




'l-V(i5liiii.i)to!i i;;iaii (ijiianls givmovu, 

lUiUitis' C)0U', llla;l| imloii. D- € , apnl 97, ISlii. 
To Uox.. S. Caheiw.v, Secrdari/ nj War, U S . 

■Sir: The mJcratgiicd. Oflecrt of Mnjur Chi/'s Bat alim, orjanisal wMIc the Capital of the United Stale) wa> 
tmsidered in imminent danger from a eiril invasion, ieoidd most mpectfiil/i/ represent that the liattalion is chief ij eompoied of non- 
residents of ,thi3 District ; that thei/ were orrjanited on'lhe. .eighteenth imtani ; that since that time the battalion has lieen on dittg 
dag and nigttt, sleeping on their arms, and Itaee at all times ticcn readg at a moment's notice to do ang service required of them. 

Theg number about three hundred men, and since reinforcements have arrived Itere, it is thought that it might not 
be nceessarg to h-eep up the organisation. Should it be deemed neeessarg bg the Department to continue the organisation, the men 
composing it, most chcerfullg tender their further services. 

Ifs^ieh services arc not needed, lee tvould re^icclfudg ushio be diabundeil and honorablg discharged bg the De/mrtnunt. 



Maj'i/r Commanding. 




7/^ 




Cii'it- \d Coiujiiiifi/. 



'^t^^^^ 



Cup/. 'I'l L'imifanif. 



ntiml/era of 
he pleased^ 



Waii DErAUTMKNT. Mny 2, ISfil 
Majui; Jamls \V. Nye; 

Sir ; In reply to jjour idler of the 2~lh of April, slating that, in conscfjitcnce of the arrival of lariji 
troops in ihis eil'/^ the emergency hm ceased jvhich called the battalion commanded ht/ you into service, and that yo,i woulu wt pivwtea^ 
IbcrcforCj io have authority to disband the battalion^ and hzvc an honorable dkeharyc from service. 

Concurring fully wUhyou, Ireadil/j grant the authority a<il:edfor, and, indoing so, I beg to extend you, awl through 
you io the men under your command, the asstirance of my high appreciation of the very prompt and patriotic mminer in which your 
battalion teas organized for the defence of the Capital, and the very efficient services rendered hy it during the iin>c of its eyistencc. 

Very respectfully. 



1 eheerfullg concur in the foregoing tesfimoniat given bg the IIoi 
Mag 2, 1861. 



■yTrfi i-.,ur^.^ 



^ tilt ZJj.ioljinsjpii C1.1D uattalion. I, DAVID WBBB, 



By authority vested in me as Miiji 
now commanding, do lieieby certify tliat ^^<-i^e-7'ft,c£'e.^^ca> ^ f Xcc^^^i-t^i/h -Mpiiibcr of saiil Battalif 
his Country in defence of the Rational <2ra))ital, at a liinc of great iieril. nli.ii Ihnuloofd by hordes of tr 
tervice commicncing on the eighteenth day of April, IStil, unci cmlin^ on the dale luTcof 

1 also, by virtue of said authority, do hereliy HONORABLY DISCHARGE llie said 
Ja>. V. ^tt<»^'>tt^'-> from the service of Uie United State s.^ / 

Given under my liand, at Washington City, tliis ^^^..f^r^/'-' day of May, ISGl 

Mt\)or Commanding. 




50 



i 



1 



THE CORNELIUS S. BUSHNELL NATIONAL MEMORIAL 

ASSOCIATION. 

Organized March 9, iSgq. 
The 36th Anniversary of the battle between the Monitor and Merrimac. 

/'rt'^/V/tvz/.-— NoRRis G. Osuorn, Editor New Haven Daily Register, New 
Haven, Conn. 

Vice Preside/its:— Yior\. William E. Simonds, Past Dept. Commander 
Conn. Grand Army of the Republic. 

Francis B. Allen, Past Junior Vice Commander-in- 
Chief, G. A. R., Hartford. Conn. 

Gen. E. S. Greeley, Vice President Yale National 
Bank, New Haven, Conn. 

William S. Wells, Late Second Assistant Engineer, 
U. S. N., New Haven, Conn. 

Hon. N. D. Sperry, Member of Congress, New Haven, 
Conn. 

S. J. Fox, Late Assistant Adjutant General of Conn., 
New Haven, Conn. 

Secretary: — G-KOViGK H. Ford, New Haven, Conn. 

Assistant Secretary: — John M. Crampton, New Haven, Conn. 

Second Assistant Secretary:—\^\-Li.K^v> C. Warren, New Haven, Conn. 

Treasurer: — New Haven Trust Company, T. Attwater Barnes, Presi- 
dent, New Haven, Conn. 

Historian:— ^iiSLiK'si S. Wells, Late Second Assistant Engineer, U. S. N., 
and Past National Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Vet- 
erans of the United States, New Haven, Conn. 

FINANCE AND SUBSCRIPTION COMMITTEE. 

E. E. Bradley, New Haven, Conn. 
S. E. Merwin, New Haven, Conn. 
E. G. Stoddard, New Haven, Conn. 
Phelps Montgomery, New Haven, Conn. 
Edward C. Bkecher, New Haven, Conn. 
Frank T. Lee, New Haven, Conn. 
Francis E. Hunn, New Haven, Conn. 
Edward S. Swift, New Haven, Conn, 
Benjamin R. English, New Haven, Conn. 
Edward A. Bowers, New Haven, Conn. 

51 



COMMITTEE ON DESIGN. 

PROF. JOHN F. WEIR. C/uny,nan. 

L. W. ROBINSON, 

GEORGE D. SEYMOUR, 

HON. N. D. SPERRY, ' 

HON. C. T. DRISCOLL 

EVERETT E. LORD, 

HENRY T. BLAKE.' 

PRESS COMMITTEE. 

C. W. PICKETT, a^an-,uan. 

WILLIAM G. PRATT 

JOHN D. JACKSON. ' 

LEWIS S. WELCH," 

LEO. R. HAMMOND, 

J- B. LUCKE, 

WIEGAND SCHLEIN. 

ALEXANDER TROUP, 

F. W. BARBER, 

ALBERT BARCLAY, 

JAMES F. SCOTT. ' 

COMMITTEE ON PRINTING. 

WILSON H. LEE, C/minnan. 

LSAAC BROMLEY, 

JOHN H. PLATT,' 

JOHN C. NORTH,' 

GEORGE W. LEWIS. 

GENERAL COMMITTEE. 

MAX ADLER, C/u,/nnan. 

There are many gentlemen of this Citv q. . 
States on the General Committee. ' ' '"' """^'^^ 



52 



J 





Note:. 

This pa,„phje, ^i„ 

'-« '° buiW the vesse, .,,,; '"' ^^ ^— 

''t Hampton R , ''^^e^ted the " Me,-,-- 

VtonRoad3o„j «e,„mac " 

-^^e Cornelius S B h 
^'•-- ^eheves the ..eal: T!,' t"";' ^^-"-^^ A.o- 

J ^^ sftow his c;,,K^, . to «u or the » 

^---s.B.h.eod;t!;;:r^^^------« tf 

°-'- °- 'and in one of the , , °"'°°" "''■^'' ^""g " 

'^'^'•'^^^'"^>--fou,.eonnt,-,: 
^f '5 planned to erect . ■ 
""^''-"- « New Haven C ^"'""^ "'^"-'■■•■^' - Mr. 

« ^" -'-ated cost of $3;.ooT"" ^'^^ "'" °^ '^'^^ '^°-. 
^^e State of p^ 

towards the evn contributed 'l^r 

'''^ expense. Aft^r ,. ^5,ooo 

^^■^w Haven Trust Co.- rr A.. ^'ea^Urer, tl,e 

^'•-^-°na,Ban.Bni,dl,;:7^--"---c'ent), 

^'^^ew Haven, Conn 
': ^^VEN, Con:. 
-October, ,899 ' 




4 



